Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 8, 2024 1:38:38 GMT
College campuses navigate spike in COVID cases as students return - Published Sept 6, 2024
EASTON, Pa. - It's back to school for local colleges.
But students may run the risk of bringing more than just books and iPads back to campus.
Campuses are vulnerable to COVID spikes because of closed classrooms and shared living spaces.
"I did hear recently that my resident assistant got COVID. So that's something I definitely want to look out for," said Griffin Mulcahy, a sophomore at Lafayette College.
Mulcahy lives in the dorms at Lafayette, which has seen an uptick in COVID cases since students returned to class.
"I've seen (the resident assistant) with a mask around the dorm halls, so he's taken the right precautions and then he told us immediately when he knew. So there is a little bit of a semblance of COVID on campus. Really close by to my dorm."
Lafayette's Director of Health Services Jeff Goldstein warned students to prepare for an increase in COVID cases last month. The administration says they are now seeing that increase, as predicted.
"So I would say it's a concern of mine. But I feel like there's not much I can do about it at this point," said senior Brady Valle. "I'm doing my best to stay vigilant. Stay healthy. Take my vitamins, wash my hands. And I just feel like that's all that I can do."
Older students remember the tail end of the COVID pandemic, when masks and social distancing were the norm. This year, COVID isn't the priority it once was. Students are equally concerned about other diseases.
"Usually every time we first get to campus for the year we do see an uptick in all sicknesses, not just COVID. That's what we're seeing now," Valle said.
"For me its a backburner issue. I don't think I ever got it. I was vaccinated," said Aiden Michell, a senior.
Lafayette adopted new CDC guidelines in March, which now matches health advice for other common respiratory issues, but no longer tracks the number of cases on campus.
"I know there are a few cases coming about so we'll see what happens I guess," Michell said.
EASTON, Pa. - It's back to school for local colleges.
But students may run the risk of bringing more than just books and iPads back to campus.
Campuses are vulnerable to COVID spikes because of closed classrooms and shared living spaces.
"I did hear recently that my resident assistant got COVID. So that's something I definitely want to look out for," said Griffin Mulcahy, a sophomore at Lafayette College.
Mulcahy lives in the dorms at Lafayette, which has seen an uptick in COVID cases since students returned to class.
"I've seen (the resident assistant) with a mask around the dorm halls, so he's taken the right precautions and then he told us immediately when he knew. So there is a little bit of a semblance of COVID on campus. Really close by to my dorm."
Lafayette's Director of Health Services Jeff Goldstein warned students to prepare for an increase in COVID cases last month. The administration says they are now seeing that increase, as predicted.
"So I would say it's a concern of mine. But I feel like there's not much I can do about it at this point," said senior Brady Valle. "I'm doing my best to stay vigilant. Stay healthy. Take my vitamins, wash my hands. And I just feel like that's all that I can do."
Older students remember the tail end of the COVID pandemic, when masks and social distancing were the norm. This year, COVID isn't the priority it once was. Students are equally concerned about other diseases.
"Usually every time we first get to campus for the year we do see an uptick in all sicknesses, not just COVID. That's what we're seeing now," Valle said.
"For me its a backburner issue. I don't think I ever got it. I was vaccinated," said Aiden Michell, a senior.
Lafayette adopted new CDC guidelines in March, which now matches health advice for other common respiratory issues, but no longer tracks the number of cases on campus.
"I know there are a few cases coming about so we'll see what happens I guess," Michell said.